The Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) has praised its “Walk of Progress“, which attracted anticipated large crowds from all 17 constituencies. They touted the walk as a success.
At a press briefing on Monday, Dr Ernest Hilaire confirmed the purpose of the event. “It was… to reaffirm to us that yes, we are working… people are supportive, and for us to say, ‘thank you’ to them.”
On Sunday, supporters dressed in red, flooded the streets to show their support for the SLP government’s achievements since taking office on July 26, 2021.
Supporters and the Government began the walk at Vigie Playing Field. They concluded at the Castries Market.
Opposition Opinion
Before the event, the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) suggested that the walk was a strategy to assess SLP support head of a potential early election.
Prime Minister and SLP Leader Phillip J. Pierre dismissed the idea. “There are certain things we have to work on together. We cannot continue to divide the country,” he said, adding that personal attacks and tarnishing the country’s name abroad cannot continue.
“This is a democracy and there is room for an opposition. There always will be an opposition,” Pierre added. He further stated that he was once in opposition himself and understands them. However, he condemned the idea of destroying the country. “We must stop it,” he said, “This country does not belong to me. It belongs to the people.”
Celebrating Progress
Despite the opposition’s claims, the SLP reiterated that its ‘Walk of Progress‘ was not a prelude to an early election but a celebration of the government’s accomplishments so far in office.
Former UWP Leader Stephenson King addressed the opposition’s suggestion of early elections. “If they believe this is an indication of an early election, then they should be prepared,” King said. “This is an indication of where we are at the midpoint and what is likely to come in the remaining two years. This is just to get the Saint Lucian people to have that appreciation.”
King, who contested the 2021 election as an independent, retained his Castries North seat and joined the Phillip J. Pierre government as a Senior Minister.
Ministerial Speeches
Other Ministers also addressed the crowd during the event.
Hon. Alva Baptiste, Minister for External Affairs, touted approval from late political forerunners like George Odlum and John Compton. He added, “This crowd… is an unmistakable symptom of the level of mobilization and appreciation in this country.”
Minister for Housing, Hon. Richard Frederick praised Prime Minister Pierre’s leadership, “… the record will show even long after he’s gone that for five years, he will have led St Lucia into economic prosperity for more than 3% for every year he was Prime Minister,” he said.
Similarly, Hon. Moses Jn. Baptiste, Minister for Health, called the event “a historic moment”. He cited the first-time occurrence of such an event in St. Lucia.
Also, in his address to the crowd, Hon. Dr. Ernest Hilaire “… Labour is working for you… the more faith you have in us, the harder we will work.”
Prime Minister Pierre also thanked supporters who attended the walk, for their confidence in the SLP. He urged St Lucians to keep their eyes on the prize, adding, “…the prize, my brothers and sisters, is the minimum wage that will happen in October!”
Pierre also highlighted other achievements, like preschools receipt of an allowance to help children begin better education, an increase for pensioners who received $300 to $500, an increase for every government pensioner who got less than $700, to $725 per month to name a few.
The Prime Minister concluded with the statement that, “We want to work with you, for you. That is our motive. That is why we are in politics,” before thanking St Lucians for attending in support.
Source: St Lucia Times and Saint Lucia Labour Party.
Photo Credit: St Lucia Times.
